Res Gestae
What's in the uniform?
It is more than just identifying to which office, company, or school you belong or what kind of job you are into. Uniform reflects the "identity" of a person who wears it on. The color, design and accruement do not only enhance one's external appearance but also project character and personality.
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In our crowded city sidewalks, we can't see people's faces. However, others look so familiar -- not with the shapes of their eyes or nose or lips or complexion but with their uniform. Thus, whenever I see somebody wearing a pair of brown pants and blue t-shirt with white stripes on the sleeves, I am easily reminded of a grocery store which provides quality services to customers -- SM Supermarket. If you find the attribute "quality" to services which SM Supermarket provides, I encourage you to visit all the grocery stores in the city and see for yourself the difference from cleanliness to counters (And note that only SM Supermarket means "fast" service when it refers to "Express" Counters.)
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I am convinced that it is in similar perspective why Police Chief Superintendent Geary Barias, the new Regional Director of Police Regional Office (PRO) 6 reiterates the wearing of proper uniform among police officers in the region. In fact, PCSupt Barias is visiting all police units in the region to directly remind, if not to inform, the police personnel of the code in wearing the proper uniform. He also puts it clearly that anyone who violates the directive shall be dealt accordingly. And, as of this writing, some police personnel are already subject to pre-charge investigation for said offense.
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Apparently, penalizing our police officers with suspension for not wearing a proper uniform is too inconsiderate on the part of PCSupt Barias. It's like putting much emphasis on accidents than substance. In other words, the new PRO 6 Regional Director seems to be more inclined on the external pa-pogi points of his men rather than the kind of services that these police officers render to the community. But, that is a misconception. If we only remind ourselves of the Communist Terrorists' attacks in Tubungan and Escalante City and in other parts of the country, we will be convinced that wearing of proper uniform shall keep our police officers from deception. The "camouflage fatigue" which is the prescribed uniform of the AFP and as combat uniform of the PNP becomes too common that even our tri-sikad drivers wear it. And, worse the Communist Terrorists or New People's Army also have it as their uniform, making it easier for them to allude our government forces and civilian networks. As I see it, this is what PCSupt Barias has in mind as he puts a strong hand in the wearing of proper uniform among his men.
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What about the selling of "camouflage fatigue" uniform in the ukay-ukay? PCSupt Barias has to do something about it.
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